Folding table



Nov. 26, 1940. HOWE 2,223,068

FOLDING TABLE Filed Oct. 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NW, 26, 19%. H. HOWE 2,223,068

' FOLDING TABLE Filed Oct. 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

HAROLD HOWE ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE FOLDING TABLE Harold Howe, New York, N. Y.', assignor to Howe Folding Furniture Co. Inc., New York, N. Y.

Application October 4, 1937, Serial No. 167,098

2 Claims. (01.311-3) This invention relates to tables and more par- In the instant invention both pairsof legs may ticularly to that type of table adapted to be folded be folded or unfolded simultaneously by the in order to permit storage thereof in a relatively movement of one hand only, the other hand servsmall space or for other desired purposes. ing to maintain the horizontal relationship, of v A primary object of this invention is the provithe table and steady the same during such opera- '5 sion of such a folding table wherein the folding tion. Further in such previous constructions, it and unfolding of the legs may be accomplished has been necessary to move the entire hand as with a minimum amount of effort without the for the purpose of moving the handles a subnecessity for displacing the horizontal relationstantial distance. In the instant invention the p ship of the table top with its supporting surface movementof the single operating handle is ac- 10 as a floor. complished by a simple rotative movement oc- An additional object is the provision of a table casioned merely by flexing of the wrist. 0 adapted to serve as a tray provided with handle It is therefore an object of this invention to obmeans wherein the folding and unfolding of the viate all the above mentioned difficulties and legs of the table may be accomplished solely by others not heretofor eliminated. 15

manipulation of the handle means whereby in Other objects will in part be obvious and in part the event that the table is being utilized as a be pointed out hereinafter.

tray and carried by its handles the legs thereof The invention, therefore, consists in the combimay be readily folded or unfolded as the case nations of elements, arrangements of parts and may be without the necessity of removing the features of construction, all as will be more fully 20 hands from the handles. pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the ac- A further object is the provision of such a table companying drawings wherein: wherein all the legs may be folded and/or un- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one form folded simultaneously and such action may be of structure embodying the inventive concept disaccomplished by the movement of only one hand closing the legs of the table in unfolded posi- 25 thus using the other to steady the table'in order tion,

that the horizontal relationship of the top need Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the strucnot be displaced. ,ture shown in Figure l in a different position of An additional and more specific object is the adjustment,

3O provision of a table having folding legs where- Figure 3 is a bottom plan View of the strucby the legs may be quickly and simply unfolded, ture disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, all the legs being operated simultaneously, in Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the order that the tray may be used as a stand or table line 4-4 of Figure 3 as viewed from the top, when the same is carried into a room in a folded Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the position, thus eliminating the necessity of finding line 5-5 of Figure 4, and 35 a separate stand therefor. Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the An additional specific object is the provision line 66 of Figure 5. v of a table of the type to be hereinafter described Similar reference characters refer to similar having handles wherein when the same is in foldparts throughout the several views of the draw- 40 ed position one of the handles serves as a stand ings. 40 therefor, whereby the tray may he stood in an Having reference now specifically to the drawedgewise position on the handle and serve as a ings, I0 indicates a table top of any desired conscreen or ornamental piece of furniture. figuration. Suitable aligned pairs of supporting As conducive to a clearer understanding of this hinge brackets I l and l I are secured to the table invention it may be pointed out that there are top in any desired manner as by screws I2 and 45 in common use various tables adapted to be util2 respectively, as shown in Figure 3, each pair lized as trays whereby the same may be folded having pivoted thereto as by pivots l3 and I3 for carriage and placed on a separate stand if a framework, generally, indicated at l4 and I4 desirable. However, such folding tables have (see Figure 5).

had the uniform disadvantage that a separate Framework [4 is comprised of a transverse 50 action has hitherto been required to fold and/or member l5 having secured thereto, in any deunfold each separate pair of legs. Correspondsired manner, a pair of legs designated by the ingly when folding the table it has hitherto been reference character l6. Similarly, framework l4 necessary to operate one pair of legs with one is comprised of a transverse member 15 and hand and the other pair with the other hand. a pair of legs each designated as 16'.

Thus it will be seen that each framework I4 and I4 move as an integral unit and permits the pivoting of each pair of legs I6 and I6 simultaneously about pivots I3 and I3, respectively, in a manner to be hereinafter described.

A supporting bracket I1 is secured to one end of top II] in any suitable manner and has pivoted thereto as by a pivot I8, a handle member I9. Handle member I9 has pivoted to its lower extremities, as by pivots 2|, a pair of link members 22, asbest shown in Figure 3. The opposite ends of link members 22 extend through suitable apertures in the adjacent transverse member I5, as best shown in Figure 4, and engage a pivot pin 23 secured to a bracket 24 which latter is in turn secured to a member I'5.' Thus it will be seen that as handle I9 is moved in a clockwise direction to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, through the link and pivot arrangement legs I6 are caused to rotate about pivots I3 in a counterclockwise direction. A bracket 30 positioned on theside of member I5 opposite bracket 24 and adjacent the-lower extremity thereof (see Figure 1)--has pivoted thereto asby-a pivot 3I, one end'of a rod 32. The otherend of rod 32 is pivoted -asby a pivot 33 to a bracket 34 carriedby transverse member I5 adjacent its upper portion, or that portion adjacent the table top I6. Pivot 23 also has pivoted thereto one end of a rod 35 (see Figure 5) the other end of which is pivoted to a brack- ,et-36 carried at 'the lowerportion of member l5. and on the side thereof away from handle I9 or opposite bracket 34, as by a pivot pin 31.

Thus it will beseen that as framework I4 including its associated legs I6 is moved from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2 by clockwise movement'ofi handle I4, rod 35 serves torotate: the lower portion of transverse member 'I 55- in-a clockwise direction androd 32 similarly serves to rotate the upper portion of transverse member 15" in a similar direction causing legs I6 to be moved upwardly towards table top- Ill tothe position shown in Figure2.

A 'latch'member comprised of a resilient arm 40 is secured to table top I9 by screws 4I (see Figure 6) adjacent'framememberl I4. Latchvmember .40 includes ahandle or releaseportion 42 which extends to a point adjacent handle I9 whereby-it may be readily moved by the fingers without relinquishing ,thegrip on, handle I9.

The latching is, effected by a projection 43 adaptedto, engage pivot 23. Resilient arm 46 is likewise provided with an upwardly extending resilient portion 44 adapted, when the table is in foldedposition, toexert pressure on an, adjacent portion of top ID in such a manner that the resultin friction holds framework I4 in folded position. Through the rigid engagement of rods 35 and 32, framework I4 is also held in folded position.

A suitable fixed handle 45 which may be Similar in design tohandle I9 is secured to the end of topIU opposite handle .I9. v

From the foregoing the operation of the device should nowbereadily understandable Assuming the table tobe in the position shown in Figure 1 anyone desiring-to move the same merely grasps handles I9 and 45. If, for any reason, it is now desiredto foldthe legs of the table the fingers are pressed against release 42 of latch 46 forcing the same upwardly to releaseprojection 43 from its engagementwithpivot 23. The wrist is x d. r tat handle 1 nw dl lw hr respect to the table, whereupon links 22 move downwardly and exert a torque upon pivot pin 23 and hence frame member I4 causing frame member I4 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and move legs I6 upwardly with respect to table top I6. Through the operation of rods 32 and 35 previously described frame I4 and hence legs I6 are rotated in a clockwise direction. At this point it may be noted that the alignment of the legs and/or the taper thereof is uch as to permit ready passage of legs I6 and I6 when the same are folded. If it is then desired to unfold the legs of the table it will be readily understood that a reverse movement of the wrist results in a counterclockwise rotation of handle I9 about pivot I8 and causes the legs to reverse the operation previ-- ously described, with respect to table top Ill,

whereupon projection 43 will ride over pivot 42,

thus automatically latching and precluding the possibility of the folding of the table until such time as latch member 40 is released.

It should also be noted that, as best shown in Figure'2, when the table is folded handle I9 is in substantial right angled relationship with respect to topI6 and may if desired serve as a support or stand for the table. Thus if it is desired to stand the table on the floor or elsewhere in folded position in order that it may occupy little space, it is merely folded in the manner previously described and handle I 9 utilized as a stand therefor.

While the particular application of the invention disclosed herein is a table of the type known as a coffee table or a tray table, it will be readily understood that the inventive concept may be applied to any other type of folding table, as a card table, or a bed table or similar article of furniture.

7 It will thus be seen that it is herein provided a structure which achieves all the objects of this invention and many others, including advantages of great practical utility, particularly in the simplicity of operation and construction.

. As many embodiments may be made, of this invention and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment just described, it is to be understoodthat all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a l m ti s ns I claim as my invention;

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, atop, legs pivoted thereto, a handle pivoted to said top, said handle being movable to a position substantially at right angles to said top, means operable by movement of said handle to rotate said legs about said pivots, said handle beingin said right angled position when'said legs are adjacent said top, whereby said table may be stood edgewise in a small space, said handleserving as a stand therefor.

.2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a top, legs pivoted thereto, a handle pivoted to said top, means associated with said handle and operable through-change in position thereof to fold and unfold said legs with respect to said top: about their associated pivots, a portion of said handle extending in substantially right angled relationship to said top when in one p sition v of adjustment whereby said handle serves as a stand to support said top in vertical position with respect to a supporting surface for said device when said legs are folded.

, HAROLD HOWE. 

